The number of babies born in the US in 2018 fell to the lowest level in 32 years, according to a 2019 report by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. The numbers indicate an ever-growing trend of more and more young people, especially millennials, opting for a childfree lifestyle.
Even though the joys of growing a child are undisputable, skipping parenthood may often seem an appealing decision to millennials who face college debts and enormous costs of living. Instead, many opt for the freedom of traveling, experiencing things, and cherishing their personal independence.
But in order to find out why exactly so many people make the decision of a childfree life, we have to look at what these people have to say themselves. So we rounded up some of the most illuminating tweets on the joys of life without kids that will surely give everyone a lot to think about.
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This needs to be at the top. I never even realized this before but this is so important.
To find out more about why some people opt not to have kids, Bored Panda reached out to Amy Blackstone, professor of sociology at the University of Maine and the author of “Childless by Choice: The Movement Redefining Family & Creating a New Age of Independence.”
Amy explained that people opt out of parenthood for both internal and external reasons. In terms of the internal, “research shows that common reasons include a desire for autonomy, an interest in spontaneity, and a preference to nurture relationships with partners and others in their life.”
Another interesting finding according to Amy is that childfree people cite concern about the environment, concern over the state of world affairs, and concern for the children who are already here. “Increasingly, I'm hearing from childfree people that environmental concerns top their list of reasons for opting out of parenthood,” she said.
When asked about the kinds of joys that childless life can bring, Amy confessed she was happy to hear the question.
Amy, who leads a happy childfree life herself, said that “One of the most common myths about childfree people is that we live sad, lonely lives. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
“People without children report that they enjoy nurturing the bonds they share with their partners and friends, that they feel fulfilled by having the time and resources to give back to their communities, and that they appreciate the freedom to pursue a wide variety of interests, passions, and hobbies.”
Not to mention infertility is a thing, trauma is a thing, mental and physical health issues that are passed down are a thing. There are so many reasons someone might be childless and it isn't your business
Yes... that's all we want. if we feel like having a kid, we'll borrow a nephew or niece for a week just to get it out of our system
I refer to my human kids as "skin babies" all the time. They think it's hilarious. They also call our cats their brothers and sister
children are EXPENSIVE, it's beyond me to think that people have more than one of them. AND you have to keep spending to care and nurture them until they are matured and ready for the world on their own. based on the culture you are raised from, that could range from 18y or until they have a stable job and/or married themselves.
and all the people in the restaurant also trying to have a nice meal.....
As a childless/free/whatever woman who used to work 60-hour weeks until the pandemic hit, I’m gonna vote no.
Plus when you realize nobody is actively destroying your house, you don't have to waste time/money on food they won't eat, & that you can own even mildly delicate things without fear.
Or working retail and seeing those little crotch goblins screaming and throwing s**t everywhere. I actually feel my ovaries shrivel up when I witness this.
Ha! My ex-wife did this at a gathering of my family once. No one ever handed her a baby again.
I love that the person who posted this is using an avatar of Princess Caroline, a character whose major arc on the show "BoJack Horseman" is that she really REALLY wants to have a kid.
Yes it's selfish not to create something that you parade around for attention and gifts, and stealing people's free time.
Day care costs $12000 a year for one kid....kids cost WAY more than $15000
This is SO annoying. I was told this so many times ! I wanted to be sterilised in my 30's, but they wouldn't do it, as I "might change my mind, as I had just gotten married". Never mind that we were both 37 and had never wanted children !! So I just kept taking the pill constantly so I wouldn't have a period, couldn't bear them !
Humans are such a bad design... now I understand villains in movies trying to change humans to lizards or something
What imbecile is trying to save their marriage by having kids?! That's probably the biggest challenge for any relationship and even the great ones don't always survive the transition of become parents.
I just want people to stop pressuring others. Do what you want. I have neither a marriage or kids and it is exactly what I want.
I can't get over it that people don't realize how rude it is to ask someone why they don't have kids. What kind of answer do they expect? "I don't want any", "I can't have any", ... Either way; uncomfortable conversation following.
I've got into the habit of answering "because I don't" whenever asked why I don't have kids. Usually shuts people up
Load More Replies...Speaking as someone who cannot have kids: I'm completely fine with a childless/childfree life, but the worst part about infertility is having to deal with people judging my childlessness as some sort of selfish act, or something that can be changed with enough persuasion. I understand that asking people "when are you going to have kids" might seem like a natural conversational filler, but for some people, it could actually be a really sensitive topic that they don't want to get into at work/at a family gathering/etc, and any reluctance to discuss children/fertility should be respected. Infertility is not something I ever feel happy about having to defend or justify. Posts like this make me realise I am not alone, but I think it's sad that childless people are so often not respected as "complete" or "fulfilled" human beings. For some people, a childless/childfree is a choice. For some of us, it is not. Either way, we deserve respect.
Yes, it is extremely rude, but for some reason, people seem to feel that it is their main goal in life, to ask why someone doesn’t have kids! Even if they don’t know you! I am infertile, and we weren’t even married, and didn’t know that yet, but we kept being asked, were we having kids, and that it was best to start right away.. ( I was 34 when we got married, hubs was 27..) we just said we didn’t know. But it really is no ones business but your own.. stupid me, thought of a comeback, after I found out I couldn’t have kids was, oh no! I am going to buy a kid off the black market! But realized that was creepy.. now we are past 50, so nobody says a word.. frankly, I don’t want anyone’s personal opinion on my no kid situation!
Load More Replies...I just want people to stop pressuring others. Do what you want. I have neither a marriage or kids and it is exactly what I want.
I can't get over it that people don't realize how rude it is to ask someone why they don't have kids. What kind of answer do they expect? "I don't want any", "I can't have any", ... Either way; uncomfortable conversation following.
I've got into the habit of answering "because I don't" whenever asked why I don't have kids. Usually shuts people up
Load More Replies...Speaking as someone who cannot have kids: I'm completely fine with a childless/childfree life, but the worst part about infertility is having to deal with people judging my childlessness as some sort of selfish act, or something that can be changed with enough persuasion. I understand that asking people "when are you going to have kids" might seem like a natural conversational filler, but for some people, it could actually be a really sensitive topic that they don't want to get into at work/at a family gathering/etc, and any reluctance to discuss children/fertility should be respected. Infertility is not something I ever feel happy about having to defend or justify. Posts like this make me realise I am not alone, but I think it's sad that childless people are so often not respected as "complete" or "fulfilled" human beings. For some people, a childless/childfree is a choice. For some of us, it is not. Either way, we deserve respect.
Yes, it is extremely rude, but for some reason, people seem to feel that it is their main goal in life, to ask why someone doesn’t have kids! Even if they don’t know you! I am infertile, and we weren’t even married, and didn’t know that yet, but we kept being asked, were we having kids, and that it was best to start right away.. ( I was 34 when we got married, hubs was 27..) we just said we didn’t know. But it really is no ones business but your own.. stupid me, thought of a comeback, after I found out I couldn’t have kids was, oh no! I am going to buy a kid off the black market! But realized that was creepy.. now we are past 50, so nobody says a word.. frankly, I don’t want anyone’s personal opinion on my no kid situation!
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